AN: So here it is folks. Hope you enjoy it. Thanks for all who have reviewed, those that are silent I am waiting! As always I own nothing.


Sarah ran to Ianto grabbing the weevil spray and seditative. She too had seen what Ianto had found and pulling him away from the monitors she rushed down to save the captain.

The two raced down to the vaults, to the cell of their recent capture where someone had placed Jack. Whether he had been dead or alive when placed Sarah didn't know but she was going to find out.

Blood covered the cell and Sarah had to focus Ianto's mind so they could pull him out. When she was sure Ianto was controlled she opened the cell, waited while Ianto sprayed the weevil, then as it recoiled she whipped out the sedative while Ianto pulled Jack's lifeless body out.

As Ianto held Jack Sarah moved the weevil two cells down not caring what damage she was doing to it. After all weevils were heavy creatures and sedated, they were dead weight.

Ianto sat on the cold cement floor waiting with Jack's head in his lap. He had always hated this, the waiting. Even though he knew Jack would come he still feared that someday he wouldn't. And despite their conversation that occured shortly before he died he stilled feared that one day Jack would not come back from the darkness of his death.

"We should move him Ianto. It might be awhile before he returns."

Ianto nodded in response but he did not move.

"I can't carry him love and he shouldn't wake up here. Unless you can't," whispered Sarah as she placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

Ianto looked up and finally registering what she was saying he cradled Jack to him and stood up. He followed Sarah through the cells and up the stairs. As they reached the main area of the hub they were greeted by the alarm announcing Gwen and Charlie's return.

Gwen spotted them from the door and rushed to Ianto's side nearly knocking him over in her concern, "What happened?"

"We don't know," replied Sarah directing Ianto to the sofa, "We found him in the cells with the weevil you guys caught this morning."

"Okay, Charlie we need to run the security program. Check for a breach in the system. Also we need to go over the CCTV footage of the Hub. It might have been a mistake. Sarah and I will systematically check the Hub," said Gwen taking charge as she tossed Sarah a gun.

Ianto made a move to protest as he settled Jack in his lap on the sofa, but Sarah put her hand up, "I know how to handle a gun Ianto and I know a little self defense I will be fine and I have got the comms to call for help if I need it. We need to find out what happened and find Marie."

"What do you mean find Marie?" asked Gwen as she started moving towards the stairs to the archives.

"I have yet to come across her," replied Sarah moving to Jack's office.

"What do the heat sensors tell you Charlie?" asked Gwen as she moved through the dark tunnels that were so much Ianto's domain.

"I am only registering the four of us and the correct number of guests in the vaults," he replied, "But there are areas in the Hub that aren't wired."

Sarah made her way around the main area towards the conference room. Walking in she almost missed it, but behind her and to her left she spotted blood out of the corner of her eye. Turning around she saw splatter and what could possible be brain matter, "Charlie any luck with the CCTV footage?"

"Sorry been focusing on any security breach. Why?"

"Pull up the history of the conference room. I think I know what happened," replied Sarah.

Sarah waited while he pulled up the footage and at his silent swear her fears were confirmed.

"You both can come back," said Charlie.

Sarah reached him first, "Did she do anything else?"

"I am looking."

Gwen got to them and tossed a reassuring look to Ianto, "What happened?"

"It was Marie, she shot Jack and then managed to carry him down to the cells…" Charlie paused briefly looking over one of his monitors, "She has spent the last month downloading a crap load of files. She masked it just enough so I wouldn't notice with out looking. It also looks like she tried to erase the footage. I'll say this she was smart."

"What do you mean tried?" asked Ianto from the couch.

"She must have seen you and Sarah coming back because she stops leaves and shortly you two walk through the door," replied Charlie.

Ianto got up from the couch and moved over to his desk, "She used the lift right?"

Charlie nodded.

"I'll try tracking her movement."

"We need to change all the access codes and see if we can't upgrade the security," stated Gwen.
"On it, I have sent the program to your computer Gwen. Just follow the prompts," said Charlie.

"I'll clean the conference room," said Sarah making her way to cleaning supply cabinet. She heard Ianto's thought of thanks as she began her task. She closed her mind as she cleaned up Marie's evil deed. Ianto didn't need to see that.

No one looked at Ianto. They could sense his nerves as each minute passed and they couldn't fail to see the constant looks he gave the couch. Neither could blame him. Gwen with Suzie, Ianto, Tosh and Owen had seen similar betrayal occur. She herself had done it once but that didn't mean she didn't feel this was wrong or cause bile to rise up as she thought of what happened. Charlie didn't understand. In his mind you make a choice to join something like Torchwood and you shouldn't betray that trust. He was flabbergasted and quite frankly freaking out a little.

After an eternity they heard a gasp and whispered "Ianto".

Ianto left what he was doing and rushed to the sofa. Knelling he ran his hands through Jack's hair while whispering nothings in Welsh.

Jack turned into Ianto and let the soothing tones wash over him. He had been so worried. His last thoughts were of the Welshman like all the times before. Unlike the others (well not all of them) he died worrying what happen to him. Jack could still see the hate in Marie's eyes and the cold words she spoke as she pulled the trigger.

Moving Jack wrapped Ianto into a bone crushing hug, kissing anything and everything.

Ianto tried pulling back trying to get Jack's attention, "Jack, Jack, Jack you need to…"

Finally Jack's lips found Ianto's and he was able to keep the Welshman quiet for 2 minutes before some rather loud and annoying coughing broke through the spell.

Pulling back he watched Ianto's color rise as he tried to slip away. But Jack wasn't having any of that and pulled him onto his lap.

Ianto struggled before he realized that it was a futile effort. Jack was a tactile person and for some reason he need this. So instead he ignored his discomfort and tried to sit respectfully. He was sure nothing about their position screamed respectable but well damn it he would try. He smiled vaguely at Sarah as she joined them before clearing his throat and turning slightly to Jack, "So are you going to tell us what happened?"

"She figured it out. I don't know how but she knew the coffee was retconned. She got angry and before I knew it I was corned and she was spouting off threats. The last thing I remember is her threatening Ianto and pulling the trigger," as Jack spoke his arms tightened around Ianto. He barely registered the slight circles Ianto was rubbing on his hands.

"Charlie looked through the footage. She shot you and then carried you down to the cells and left you with Henrietta. Who than made you feel welcome by taking a few chunks out of you," said Sarah inwardly smiling at the image Ianto and Jack were giving.

"We were following her on the CCTV but we lost her somewhere on James St," said Charlie.

"She had to know we would look for her," imputed Gwen.

"Are we able to track her?" asked Jack.

"No. She took off and left everything we placed trackers in," replied Gwen holding up a bag that contained earrings, a belt, and a cell phone.

"Okay, Sarah?" asked Jack turning to her adjusting Ianto but not letting him go. Despite the younger mans new attempts to try and break free.

"No I never had to tap into her mind so I don't have a connection. I have tried to hear her voice but if it's out there it's lost amongst the sea of everyone else's," replied Sarah.

"Okay well we need to regroup. Tell me were we are at," said Jack.

Gwen couldn't answer. She was having the devil of a time keeping her laughter in. Ianto was clearly still trying to break free from Jack, but he wasn't having any of that yet. It might have been out of place even for the two of them but it was still very cute.

Charlie allowed his smile to show. He hadn't been around before the 456 but even he could see that the two were good for each other, "Well we have started changing the access codes, we are up grading the security system, and we are going over all the files she has downloaded in the last month. I am trying to access her personal files, but quite frankly I am coming up blank. All I am finding is a P.O. box."

"What did she download?" asked Jack.

"So far all I am seeing is info on Ianto. It's quite a bit of information Jack. It's going to take time for me to go through it all."

"Okay, Sarah we need to finish the autopsy on the alien from yesterday when your done help Charlie sift through the info, Gwen see if Marie has a record perhaps she lied from the beginning and lets run a recognition program, Ianto lets call your sister and send her and Johnny on a vacation that way I only have to protect you," said Jack going into boss mode.

"Right Jack like that is hard for you," said Gwen.

"Oh believe me it is!" smarted off Jack wiggling his eyebrows.

Ianto opened his mouth to protest but was interrupted by the rift alarm. He heard Jack sigh and felt him gently release him. Ianto was glad to be off Jack's lap but stayed close to the immortal.

"Where and what?" asked Jack.

"Bute Park, unknown living cell, it looks small," said Charlie.

"Okay slight change in plans, Ianto and Gwen with me. Sarah and Charlie stay here," replied Jack as he took his coat from Ianto's hand ignoring the pointed looks to his torn and blooded clothing. He didn't have time to change and for that matter neither did Ianto. As he raced to the SUV he felt a firm resolution take hold. If Marie thought she was going to get to Ianto she had another thing coming. Jack would kill her first. He wouldn't lose him, couldn't.